At least nine journalists drawn from various media houses in the country recently received a weeklong training exercise. The exercise saw the training of four journalists on Field Reporting and five on Web Mastering and Online Journalism.

The training was organized by The Gambia Press Union (GPU) in collaboration with The Gambia Media Support (GAMES), a Denmark-based organisation established to support the media in The Gambia.
 
GAMES project, as revealed by Mr. Madi Ceesay, the President of GPU, is a two-year project designed to build the capacities of journalists in the country. He indicated that D1.2 million has been committed to the project.

Two media experts were dispatched from Denmark as trainers.

This reporter caught up with some of the participants at the end of the training yesterday and asked them about what they thought of the training.

Abdoulie Dibba from Foroyaa Newspaper, who took part in Web Mastering and Online Journalism, said: “I am satisfied with the knowledge gained from this training. The training has added new skills to my knowledge and will enable me become more professional.”

Abba A.S Gibba, a sub-editor at The Point Newspaper who received training on Field Reporting, expressed the belief that the training has no doubt improved his skills and ability. “As in any field, you have to acquire the right vital skills and proficiency to be professional. The newfound skills and knowledge gained from this training have now given me the know-how and sheer courage necessary to practice professional journalism on a meaningful level. I want to become one of the best journalists in this country in the future,” he stated.

Meanwhile, this reporter also spoke to Mr. Ebrima Sawaneh, News Editor at The Point newspaper, regarding the training and he had this to say: “The training could not have come at a better time than now, as the country lacks a school of journalism. With such training, Gambian journalists will live up to expectations in their quest to give objective and balanced news to the Gambian people.”

Baboucarr Senghore, a senior staff reporter at The Point newspaper who is visibly excited to have received such training, said: “Such training is a major boost for the Gambian media as it will help equip journalists to report professionally. However, I would like to appeal to the organizers and most especially to the GPU to expand the project so as to enable other journalists to benefit from vital training.”